Judge modifies order allowing Senate-confirmed political appointees access to payment systems
FOX NewsFeb 09
Multiple Lawsuits Target DOGE Government Access
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Above: From the left, Cantor Fitzgerald LP CEO Howard Lutnick, Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk, and deputy White House chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller, during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., US, on Feb. 13, 2025. Image copyright: Francis Chung/Contributor/Politico/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Facts
14 US states have filed a federal lawsuit challenging the authority of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), arguing that his appointment violates the Constitution's Appointments Clause as he wasn't confirmed by the Senate.
One federal judge has been asked to extend his temporary pause on DOGE's access to Treasury Department payment systems, while another is considering a claim from unions that DOGE be barred from accessing Health Department, Labor Department, and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) records.
Current and former US Agency for International Development (USAID) employees have joined the legal opposition, filing a separate lawsuit to prevent Musk from accessing sensitive data and removing federal employees without proper constitutional authority.
The Spin
Anti-Trump narrative
DOGE has completely skirted the Constitution by allowing a small, unelected group to bypass Congress, fundamentally altering government without a shred of legal authority. This radical transformation lacks public mandate or legislative approval, flouting both separation of powers and checks and balances. Musk is conducting a coup from the inside, which is why the courts must step in to rein in this lawlessness.
Pro-Trump narrative
DOGE was created carefully to avoid violating the law by leveraging existing structures like the Obama-era United States Digital Service. The only ones mad about this are the unelected bureaucrats amassing personal wealth — highlighting that Americans from both sides of the aisle are against their tax dollars filling the pockets of corrupt officials. DOGE is not a coup, its mission is to cut waste, fraud, and abuse.
